The Moving Kids Forward Foundation, Inc., seeks to fund quality early education programs to combat the cycle of poverty facing many American families.

Why?

We are currently facing an educational crisis. 74% of children living in poverty leave third grade reading below grade level to never catch up. Students who are not proficient in reading by the end of third grade are 35% more likely to drop out of high school and 70% more likely to be arrested for a violent crime. High school dropouts also face economic marginalization that contributes to welfare dependence and continues the cycle of poverty.

Early childhood is the most intensive period of brain development during the lifespan.

Rapid brain development affects cognitive, social and emotional growth.

Economically, investing in young children is an essential component for the development of a national economy. Early opportunities for learning in combination with improved nutrition, increases the likelihood that a child will attend school and become an adult with higher income, better health, lower crime rates, and lower levels of welfare dependence.

Nobel Laureate James Heckman, an economist at the University of Chicago, research indicates a 7-10 percent annual return on investment in high-quality preschool

Heckman argues that preschool is the time to teach kids the “soft” skills (like focusing, keeping an open mind and controlling their tempers) they’ll eventually need to succeed in the job market and society.